Steering wheel



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 F. V. TISCHER STEERING WHEEL Fild NovA s,

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f4 ,01% la July 20 I 1926.

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July 20, 192,6. F. v. TISCHER STEERING WHEEL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 5 1925 July 20,1926.- '1,593,201

F. V. TISCHER STEERING WHEEL Filed Nov. 5, 192s 5 sheets-Sheet E Patented July 20, 1926.

UNITED STATlS FRANK V. TSCHER, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

STEERNG .VHEEL.

Application filed November 3, 1925. Serial No. 66,645.

This invention relates to steering wheels.

.It is the object of my invention to provide a marquetry steering wheel, adapted to receive a metal bushing, which will be very strong, inexpensive to manufacture and highly ornamental; the rim having` a knuckle grip so arranged as to conform to the hand ofthe operator, thereby preventing the hand of the operator from slipping and the lingers from being clinched.

In the accompanying drawingsi- E 1 is aside elevation of a wheel embolying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial elevation and section illustrating the reinforcing rim and hub members Fig 3 is aplaii view of one of the outer rim sections built up of a plurality of segments;

Fig. 4 is a similar view after the surfaces have been planedand rounded olf;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a curved laminated segment of which therim is built up;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the outer rim sections built up of a plurality of laminated segments;

Fig. 7 is a vplan view of my wheel illustrating the knuckles in staggered position on the outer and inner edges of the rim.

Referring to the drawings I will first de-l scribe the manner in which I fabricate the rim of my wheel and the novel features thereof. The rim is composed of three builtup sections, the intermediate section constitilting a reinforcing member for the outer sections. formed in the following mannei'. A plurality `of short, fiat, curved laminated segments 3 one of which is shown in Fig. 5, made up of two or more kinds of wood are laid about a circle in stepped relationship diagonally and to a given degree, after the` manner illustrated in Fig. 6. For this purpose l employ a-disk, not shown, having aA flat metal ring with spaced prongs struck upwaid on the periphery to prevent the segments from slipping. Glueis then placed between the segments and another disk orv cawl is laid upon the built-up segmental ring and placed in a standard press. Afterbeing duly pressed and dried a plan Vview of the built-up structure willhave the appearance of the ring` shown in Fig. 3, which is thenplaned olf and turned to form a ring having the appearance of .that shown in Fie'. 4f, Two such, built-up l rings comprise the The outer sections 1 and 2 are outer sections 1 and 2 of the rim, the vonly difference Ybeing that one is made so that the grain of the wood will run at a right oblique angle and the other so that the grain of wood will run at a left oblique angle.

The intermediate section 4 of the rim constitutes a reinforcing section for the outer sections and serves to prevent any strains causing damage to one outer section. from being transmitted to the other outer section. This intermediate section is made up offlat curved laminated sections, such as shown in Fig. 5, two or more different kinds of wood preferably being employed to make artistic designs. rlhese segments are also laid about a circle, but have their ends abutting instead `of stepped, and the grain of the wood running straight, the segments being held togetherv by glue.

The outer and intermediate sections thus built up Vare assembled and glued together. rlhe straight grain lines of the reinforcing member Ll ruiming through the center of the structure and the right and Aleft oblique grains of the outer sections 1 and 2 running in opposite directions outwardly from the intermediate section, make a composite structure that is very strong and highly ornamental.

After the composite structure has dried it is turned in a specially designed machine and a rim produced having knuckles 5 to provide an easy hand grip. The top and bottoni surfaces of the rim are made true to a circle, but the knuckles are formed on the inner and outer edges in staggered ielation, said knuckles extending outwardly from the circumference about one-eighth of an inch, the spaces between the knuckles being about the width of an adults hand.l

However, ay rim may be composed entirely of a structure fabricated in the manner for either of the outer sections hereinbefore described or of two such outer sections, oinitting the reinforcing intermediate section.

rlhe rim thus formed is Vprovided with mortises adapted to receive a plurality of arms 6 which are tenoned therein. These arms are curved and the inner ends 7 thereof lie in al horizontal plane parallel to the rim and are fastened together in the manner set forth in my Patent No. 1,545,989, issued July 14, 1925. The brace blocks 8, inserted between the horizontal arm portions (',have their outer edges curved outwardly instead of inwardly, as shown in said patent, to

form a circular hub to permit extension of the anchorage tor the metal bushing, further removed from the bored wall et the inner ends of the arm portions 7. lu order to re-y inforce the structure at the juncture ot the brace blocks 8 and connecting arm portions 7 I provide an endless ring 9 ot any suitable material7 which is tightly fitted into a groove in the brace blocks and connecting arms.

Centrally of the adjoining horizontal arm portions 7 I provide an opening 10 adapted to receive metal bushing.

A steering wheel must pass certain tests be'lore it will be accepted and in order to make a steering wheel largely ot wood which will he inexpensive and at the saine time possess the necessary strength to with stand the stresses to which it is subjected has een the problem confronting manutacturers who contemplated making such wheels. I will now -describe the means li have provided for making the structure so tar described snthciently strong to provide an acceptable steering wheel.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and l7 it will be observed from Fig. 7 that a part ot the upper surface of the inner ends of the curved connecting arms and brace blocks are cutv away, and a metal washer 11 inserted. the upper surface of the washer being tlush with the remainder ot the upper surtace of the connecting arms and brace blocks constituting the hub. rfhis metal washer carries a plurality ot butt-bolts 12 which eX- tend through holes in the inner ends oit the connectingarms into a relatively heavy metal ring 13 overlapping the correspfmding opposite surface ot said connecting arms and brace blocks. The bolts 1Q extend beyond the ring 13 and receive nuts 11i on their screw threaded ends 1.5. whereby the two metal rings 11 and 13 may be retained in close proximity vto the upper and lower hub surfaces. These metal rings may comprise a part ot the metal bushing for receiving the steering rod and thereby serve the dual function ot securing the bushing to the wheel and reinforcing the wheel due to the tact that the rings are ot suiiicient width to permit the bolts to be anchored at a distance from the central bore 10. A suitabl'evmetal member 16ste conceal the nuts 14 and bolt vends l5 may be held in place against the lower surface of the hub in any suitable manner.

suitable inlay 17 may be glued to the surface of the upper Washer and the remaindler otfthe wooden hub surface to provideaffinish in llz'eepingwith the marquetry v4rim. 1n order to se'c'nrely glue the inlay to the washer I provide a Ygroove 18, (Fig. 7) therein to conta-iin glue or lany desired *retaining viiiat'eial.

used wherein the tightening nuts for the clamping bolts are placed on the top of the hub instead et' the bottom, an inlay may he used to torni a finish for, as well as strengthen, the joining ot the brace blocks and connecting arm ends. ln such cases. the reinforcing endless ring 9 may extend through such inlay and serve to add to the artistic linish ot the wheel. This inlay may be laminated ot' two or more diilierent colored woods it' desired.

It will also be observed that a tace veneer ot the desired wood may also be glued to the bottom oit' the hub to cover the joining the brace blocks and connecting arm if ends to correspond with the rest of the steer- 'ing wheel.

rhe upper surface ot the inclined portions oil" the connecting arms may also be inlaid with different colored wood to tiuther ornament the wheel.

From the foregoing description and accompanying drawings it will be seen that I have provided a steering wheel which may be cheaply constructed and possess the necessary strength and rigidity to withstand strains and sudden stresses imposed thereon. which will atl'oid an easy grip for the hand oi the operator and a strong anchorage ior the metal bushing; and which will also be 9 artistic. y

lt will be understood that I desire to eomprehend within my invention such modifications as will be necessary to adapt it to varying conditions and 1'6 ll'aring thus fully described my invention, what i. claim as new and desire to secure h v Letters Patent, is t 1. in a wheel of the character described,

a rim comprising a reinforcing central scc- 1l lion having ythe 'grain ol the wood running straight. outer sections secured to said central .section and having the grain of the wood ruiming at oblique angles'thereto, a plurality ot arms, and means for reinforcing said l arms.

Q. ln a wheel ot the character described. a rim. a plurality of arms secured to said rim at their outer ends and to one another at their inner ends, a plurality of brace blocks. means for firmly uniting said arms and brace blocks, and means tor reinforcing the adjoining ends oit said arms to prevent them being weakened by sudden jolts and stresses.

1n a steering wheel oi the character del' scribed, a rim comprising an intermediate reinforcing section having ythe grain of the wood running straight, outer sections secured to said intermediate section. one ot said outer sections having the grain et' the wood ruiming lat a right oblique angle to :said intermediate section and the other outer 'section having the grain of wood runningat a left `oblique 'angle thereto., :the vcomposite "structure being "'ashion'edwith knuckles in l staggered relation on the outer and inner edges.

4. In a wheel of the character described, a rim, a plurality of arms secured to said rim at their outer ends and to one another at their inner ends, brace blocks secured between said arms adjacentl their inner ends` and forming with said arms a circular hub portion having a groove in one face, and a reinforcing member inserted in said groove.

5. In a wheel of the character described, a rim. a plurality of arms secured to said rim at their outer ends and to one another at their inner ends, brace blocks secured between said arms adjacent their inner ends and forming with said arms a circular hub portion having a groove in one face, a reinforcing member inserted in said groove, and means for reinforcing said arms.

6. In a. wheel of the character described, a rim` a plurality of arms secured to said rim at their outer ends and to one another at their inner ends, brace blocks secured between said arms adjacent their inner ends and forming with said arms a circular hub, means for covering the upper and lower surfaces of said hub to provide a smooth artistic finish, and means for reinforcing said hub comprising an endless member inserted in said hub to tie said arms and brace blocks more firmly together'.

7. In a wheel of the character described, a rim comprised of curved laminated segments arranged so that the grain of the wood of the structure will run at an oblique angle to a horizontal plane which is the plane of the wheel said segments being glued together.

8. In a wheel of the character described, a rim comprising an intermediate laminated structure having the grain of the wood running straight, a laminated structure adjacent one side of the intermediate structure and having the grain of the wood running at a left oblique angle thereto and another laminated structure adjacent the opposite side of' the intermediate structure and having the grain of the wood ruiming at a right oblique angle thereto, and a plurality of arms, all glued together. Y

9. In a steering wheel of the character de* scribed, a plurality of curved arms, a plurality of brace blocks, a plurality of laminated coverings, and a reinforcing ring for uniting said brace blocks and arms, all glued together.

l0. In a steering wheel of the character decribed, a rim comprising a plurality of short, curved members laid about in stepped relationship to form circular sections, the grain of the wood running at an oblique angle to a horizontal plane which is the plane of the wheel.

Il. In a steering wheel of the character described, a rim comprising two circular sections joined together, each section being formed of a plurality of short, curved members laid about in stepped relationship, the grain of the wood of one section running at a right oblique angle to the plane of the joining surface and the grain of the wood of the other section running at a left oblique angle to said plane.

l2. In a steering wheel of the character described, a rim comprising a central reinforcing member, two circular sections secured to either side of said reinforcing member, each section being formed of a plurality of short, curved members laid about in stepped relationship, the grain of the wood of one section running at a right oblique angle to said reinforcing member and the grain of the wood of the other section running at a left oblique angle to said reinforcing member.

I3. In a method of forming a steering wheel of the character described consisting of securing together a plurality of short, curved laminations to form a circular section, planing said formed circular section. joining together adjacent flatv surfaces of two such planed sections so that the grain of the wood of one section will run at a right oblique angle to the plane of joining said sections and t-he grain of the wood of the other section will run at a left oblique angle to said plane.

In testimony whereof, I a'l'lix my signature.

FRANK V. 'IISCI-IER. 

